Ten Things to do Before I Die Delacorte Press, 2004, 219pp., $6.99
Daniel Ehrenhaft ISBN 0-385-90912-8
What would you do if you knew you were going to die in 24 hours? Would you go to the hospital and try to survive or would you try to live your last 24 hours. to the fullest? This is the decision facing Ted Burger in 10 Things to do Before I Die.
Ted Burger was a regular kid at 8 am on Tuesday morning, but when he went to a fast food place with his friends his life changes forever. Mark, his best friend, has accused Ted of boring and has started a list of things that
Ted should do during spring break. As Mark is finishing the list Ted finds out that an angry employee poisoned the fries that he ate at the restaurant. The employee said that whoever ate the fries would die in 24 hours Mark kept encouraging Ted to go to the hospital, but Ted decides that if he’s going to die then he wants to make sure that he dies living his life to the fullest.
Daniel Ehrenhaft writes amazingly by making a character that truly catches your mind so that you can never put it down. I absolutely loved this book because it is all about finding your true self, but is also extremely funny. I recommend this book for boys and girls above 10 (because of inappropriate things) who feel like they need excitement in their life. 10 Things to do Before I Die is a perfect story about living life in the fast lane.
By: Natasha
Then again, maybe I won't Simon & Schuster, 1971, pp.164,$6.50
Judy Blume ISBN # 0-02-711090-7
Tony a soon to be 7th grader, finds out that he will be moving at the beginning of summer, to Rosemont, a really wealthy neighborhood. Well, wealthy to Tony anyway. When he moves to his new house in Rosemont he makes a new friend, Joel. During the summer they like to go places, like the mall. When they are in the mall somebody steals something. Is it Tony or is it Joel. To discover the thief read, Then again, maybe I won't by Judy Blume.
I liked the book because it was sad and also very adventurous. I just love Judy Blume's realistic fiction books.
I would recommend this book to anyone over the age of ten.
What would you do if your substitute didn’t show up? Would you A) Party! or B) Be on your best behavior? Well in Ralph Fletchers novel he shows how this wide variety of sixth grade students must band together to keep from getting caught when their teacher (Mr. Fabinos and the sub.) don’t show up. This class is your average class. Rachel is that one girl who never talks. She hasn’t talked since Tommy Feathers - Rachel’s admirer, died the night she said she will never ever like him. This book is my all time favorite. I’ve read it three times and each time I read it I love it more and more! Ralph Fletcher did a fantastic job in this book He used so much detail; it made a movie in my mind! I recommend this book to mostly people younger than the eighth grade.
Reviewed by Hannah
Judi Picoult
My Sister’s Keeper
448pp. $25.00
ISBN 0-743-45453-7
“They don’t really pay attention to me, except when they need my blood, or something. I wouldn’t even be alive if I wasn’t for Kate being sick.” How would you like to be the one saying this? Do you think you could handle being genetically altered to save someone with cancer? Would you ever think of suing your parents?
My Sister’s Keeper will make you want to cry. It is about a young girl who is suing her parents for the rights to her own body. Her sister has Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL). APL is a cancer of the blood. She needs a transplant of healthy bone marrow to trick her body into thinking it is healthy. Anna is being used to get the healthy bone marrow, and she is not to happy about it.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves books that have sad or emotional events. Picoult is a great writer. She has many phenomenal books but I would say that this is her very best one ever.
AUTUMN
Bratfest At Tiffany’s Little Brown & Company, 2008, 227pp., $9.99
Lisi Harrison ISBN 0-316-00680-7
What would you do if you went from being the most popular girl in the entire school to being a complete LBR (loser beyond repair)? The main character in Bratfest At Tiffany’s, Massie, used to be super cool and popular until the boys invaded her school. The boy’s school across the street flooded, so now their school has gone co-ed. Now Massie’s popularity is going down hill. Massie has decided that her and her friends are going on a boyfast, which means that they aren’t allowed to date any boys. What will happen when Massie finds out that her friends are dating boys behind her back? Will they all stay friends or will Massie kick them out of her life forever? You will have to read Bratfest At Tiffany’s to find out.
This fictional book mainly takes place at Massie’s school, OCD (Octavian Country Day). Lisi Harrison does a great job of writing this book through Massie’s point of view. I always knew exactly what was happening and what Massie was feeling. The book also includes the girls’ emails and text messages. I recommend this book mainly to teenage girls who are interested in drama, boys, and friendships.
-Megan
Summer Ball Penguin Group (U.S.A.), 2005, 288 pp., $7.99
Mike Lupica ISBN: 0399244875
Danny is tiny, and everyone thinks he looks ten years old, but he is really thirteen. This haunts him because he is compared to his dad, who was a famous basketball player. After his dad creates a travel basketball team, they win nationals. Soon after Danny attends an elite basketball camp with Ty and Will, his best friends. He is scared to go to camp because he is going to play with bigger, stronger, and older kids. He will be faced with many problems including his height, wanting to leave, and hateful, jealous players.
I thought it was such a spiffy book. It had realistic dialogue and convincing characters. As a reader, I could really relate to Danny’s feelings, thoughts, and movements because the story is written from his point of view.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys sports, because you can relate to him because he loves sports too. This book has a lot of determination, effort, and not giving up. One night I missed dinner because I wanted to finish this book, so badly. This is the best book I have ever read, 100%.
Travel Team Penguin Group (U.S.A.), 2005, 288 pp., $7.99
Mike Lupica ISBN: 9280142404621
Have you ever been looking forward to making a team sport? Have you ever been cut from that same team? This is exactly what happened to Danny, a really good basketball player. He was fast, great at passing, great at dribbling, and pretty good at shooting. The only thing that he lacked was his height. He was very mad about being short, because he heard; the team was looking for tall people. When Danny’s dad visited him they talk about is height. His dad thought of ways to try and help Danny. He talked to the coach- that didn’t help. Then all of the sudden he came up with a great idea: create a travel team for all the people who didn’t make the first one. Danny’s dad goes around and asks the rejects. They started off horrible, but they got a little better. Finally, they receive an unexpected addition to the team, and no one could imagine what happened next, not even the coach...
I deeply enjoyed this book because of the realistic characters. I could relate to Danny so much because I am just like him, short, fast, and I like to play some basketball. I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys sports and great conflicts.
Heat Penguin Group (USA), 2007, pp. 240, $7.99
Mike Lupica ISBN: 9780142407578
Michael was the best pitcher in his entire league. He could throw a baseball 80mph! That would’ve made your catchers hand fall off unless the catcher was your best friend and you practiced with him a lot. After Michael moved to the U.S.A. from Japan with his brother and dad, they made a living in New York. Soon after the move Michael’s dad died. Michael’s brother isn’t old enough to raise Michael yet. Michael and his brother had to tell everyone that there dad went away so they wouldn’t get adopted. They thought it was going to be easy until a tragedy catches them at the wrong time.
Since Michael was spectacular at baseball, a lot of the coaches on opposite teams thought he was older. When they tried to prove that he was older than he says he is, they figured out that his birth certificate is missing! Michael felt like he was torn from another close love, the baseball diamond.
This book pulled me right into the scenes of Michael’s life and feelings. The dialogue and the realistic characters helped me understand what Michael was feeling and what he was thinking. I recommend this book to any sports loving reader.
-Weston
The Clique
Lisi Harrison
Little Brown, 2004, 220pp, $9.99
ISBN 0-316-70129-7
Claire is the main character of The Clique. Claire is a simple could-care-less- about-herself kind of person. When she moves because her house flooded back in Florida she moves in to the Block family’s guesthouse. She doesn’t know the family so things start out tough because Claire had a hard time fitting in with everyone. The Block family had a daughter Claire’s age and her name was Massie. She wasn’t the nicest, but Claire knew she was going have to get a long with her. In Massie’s world, she hated Claire because she had the ugliest cloths and never looked beautiful, she was an embarrassment to her and she could really use a makeover. Does Claire get through it or does she meet some new friends that made her fit in more with her style?
Lisi Harrison is a fantastic writer and creating very realistic moments like when Massie describes what she is always wearing. That seemed to create a movie in my head. For example when Massie goes to one of her boyfriends soccer games it was well described and it felt like I was there. I recommend this book to anyone who loves realistic books and is ready to get mad at someone for doing something wrong. It’s a great book and it’s a series so that makes it even better.
Reviewed by Brittany
‘Hatchet’ Bradbury Press, 1987 195 pp,. $6.99
Gary Paulson ISBN 0-02-770130-1
What would you do if your plane crashed in the middle of a Canadian forest? Would you search for food, try to get help? This question is one that Brian has to answer.
Brian is your average thirteen-year-old boy whose parents have divorced. His mother takes him to an airport where he gets on a two- seated plane to go see his father, in Canada, for the summer. Before Brian leaves, his mother gives him a hatchet as a good-bye present. Brian accepts the gift, and pretends to like it, but he knows he has no use for it. Brian boards the two-seated airplane. While in flight Brian senses that there is something wrong when the pilot suddenly starts jerking. When the pilot has a heart attack, the plane goes down and crashes. Brian survives, but the pilot does not. He is left alone to survie in the wild.
Gary Paulson does a great job of describing what’s going on in a second person point of view. This let me visualize everything behind my eyes, as if it was an exciting movie.
This suspenseful book had me on my toes the whole way through. I would give this a 10 out of 10 stars. This book had me hooked the entire way though. I would this awesome novel to all readers over ten.
-Keegan
You Know You Love Me 17 Street Productions, 2002, 225 pp, $10.99
Cecily Van Ziccresar ISBN: 978-0-316-91148-1
The drama, the drama, this book is full of boy, college, and friend drama. Everyone likes the wrong person and some certain people are getting very mad. All Blair wants is a guy to love her and to get in to Yale. But when the guy that she thinks she loves cheats on her for a younger girl, Blair is furious. Could this affect her chance to get into Yale, or does she get revenge and get over it?
Serena, Blair’s ex. Best friend goes away for the summer, and comes back to find that she has no friends. Except for one guy who is freakishly in love with her. Does she get her friends back, and does she ditch the freak?
Finally Blair’s mom is getting married to a creep. Her mom is so excited so Blair doesn’t say much, but when she finds out that her mom invited Serena (Blair’s Ex. Best friend) to the wedding. Nothing can stop her from being that brat she really is.
Serena and Blair are only two of the many main characters in this book. The style of writing this author uses is unique. He switches off character point of view every chapter, so you always know what’s going on in this realistic fiction book.
This is a fabulous book that will keep you hook from the first page to the last. I recommend this to book to mainly girls because; this is a book about drama, and boys. I couldn’t put this book down till the very end.
by,
Ali
How would you feel if your mother left you to become a movie star? Well, that is what Ellie’s mother, Doris Day, did to her. Ellie is very shy, and only has one true friend, Holly. Ellie’s mother expects her to be outgoing, popular, and perfect, but Ellie isn’t any of those things.
Ellie’s mother isn’t like other moms. She always has to look her best; she makes everyone (even her kids) call her Doris Day even though that isn’t her real name, and is always trying to find a way to get attention. Ellie started to notice that her mom would start to come home later and later each night, sometimes she didn’t even come home at all. Then one day she comes home from modeling and says, “Guys, I am moving to New York City! I am going to be famous!” Ellie feels confusion about this. Now that her mom left, Ellie has to take on responsibilities for her family, friends, and life. Will she be able to do it?
Ann M. Martin is a fantastic author; she makes you feel you’re in the world of Ellie, there are thoughts and feelings of the characters everywhere you turn, and she always leaves you hanging on the end of each chapter. This book is filled with sadness and happiness. I would recommend this book to any teenage girl who knows what it is like to lose a parent, or a person who just loves to read! I truly loved this book and I hope others will, too. This book brought me faith and hope.
-Hannah
It’s Not Easy Being Mean New York: Little, Brown, 2007, 193 pp, $4.99
Lisi Harrison ISBN: 0-316-11505-6
In the book It’s Not Easy Being Mean, “The Pretty Committee” thinks that they have the secret room all to themselves, but when they find out that they have to fight for it; its war. Massie, the most powerful girl in the school is dropping on the social scale fast and its scaring her. If she loses to the LBR’s (losers beyond repair) to get the secret room then her popularity and reputation are down the drain, but if she wins, she gets the key to the room and the key to redeem her popularity. Yet do they know that this simple game is going to turn in to a nightmare and friendships will be lost and love will be broken?
The genre of this book is realistic fiction. The author switches off point of views and adds a lot of thoughts and feelings. So, you are never confused about what’s going on. I recommend this book to girls mainly because it is kind of a chick flick. This is a great book that has you wondering till the very last page.
-Ali
Be More Chill
Ned Vizzini
Miramax Book, 2004, 283pages, $6.99
ISBN-0786809957
Jeremy is your classical nerd. He isn’t the best looking or cool and he also isn’t smart. He also likes this beautiful girl that he thinks he can never approach. He tries really hard to get Penelope to like him but he can never get her full attention because guys always surround her. When he figures out he can’t do it by himself and is about to give up, he hears of a brain chip called a squip that will get him girls and good grades. Jeremy swallows and it changes his life forever.
This book was great from page one to two hundred eighty three. You will never want to put it down. Be more chill is a realistic book about high school life. I recommend it to all ages above 10. Ned Vizzini wrote a must read book.
~Hayden
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian
Sherman Alexie
Little Brown Company, 2007, 230 pages
ISBN-10:0-316-01368-4
Arnold Spirit aka Junior has lived on an Indian reservation his whole entire life. Junior lives in a beaten and broken down house with his sister Mary and his parents. He lives a boring life that he wants to change. Then when Junior throws a book at his teacher he gets a newsflash to try and make his life better. Then he asks his parents if they could transfer him to Rearden High school because it has a better education program than the high school at the rez. One problem: Reardon has only white kids in it. Now Junior must deal with being the minority in a sea of “white” faces.
Alexie tells you the good and bad things that happen in Arnold’s life. I recommend this book to anyone who likes realistic fiction. I liked this book a lot.
Imagine being mentally challenged, but still being able to have amazing accomplishments. This tall tale is about a loveable guy named Forrest Gump. This book takes place is Greenbow, Alabama. This book is about a man with everything against him, but still goes on to do amazing things. He was an amazing historical figure in this book. Like he goes on to save Mao, and plays world-class ping-pong.
In this book the author portrays a man that has quite an exciting life. It goes from event to event with almost perfect transition. Everything the author writes about ties into life. Like he joins the army and meets a man named Bubba. Bubba wants to go into the shrimping business, but is killed. So after the war Forrest starts a company called Bubba Gump. That’s a real seafood restaurant. I recommend this book to anyone who has seen the movie or likes to read about real life events.
This book will keep you entertained for hours. It will have you laughing and always on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens to Forrest next.
Shooter
Walter Dean Myers
Harpers Children Books, 2004, 240 pp., $7.99
ISBN:978-0-06-447-290-6
What happens when you’re the one involved in a school shooting? This is what happens to Cameron, a quiet kid with a friend named Leonard. Leonard is a very “dark” kid that keeps to himself. He is always talking about shooting guns, killing stuff with guns, but one day he snaps and decides to bring a gun to school. Leonard’s ex-girlfriend Carla who still hangs out with them feels like something wrong.
Leonard says, “ I’m going to paint my blood all over the school walls.” And that’s when it starts to all go wrong.
The author’s style is very unique. He writes this book like an interview. Many different officials in Harrison County interview Cameron and Carla about the school shooting and about Leonard. I think this book was sad, but very true, because school shootings do really happen. I rate this book a ten, because of the reality and how the characters emotions were shown throughout the book. The book also showed what kind of people the characters were in the book. It showed their emotions and what problems they had. I give this book, Shooter two thumbs up. I also plan to read many other titles by Walter Dean Myers. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in realistic fiction and likes to find out about what happens in the world and the consequences.`
By: Alex
Cut
Patricia McCormick
PUSH, 2000, 151 pgs
$7.00, ISBN 0-439-32459-9
Reviewed by Forrest
Callie is a teenager who is sent to Sea Pines for cutting herself. She struggles through challenges on her own since she won’t talk to anyone. Just as she is starting to cope, her world gets flipped upside down when Amanda (another girl who cuts herself) comes into Sea Pines. This time when Callie cuts herself to deal with the anger she feels, she experiences something that will change her life forever.
Will Callie ever start talking? Will she ever get better? These are some of the questions I found myself asking when I was reading Cut. If you love realistic fiction then you should read this book. The author has her own unique writing style. She writes as if you were Callie’s therapist. If you ever wanted to know what it’s like to be in a crazy hospital or how it is to cut your self then you should read Cut.
Godless
Pete Hautman
Schuster children publishing, 2004,198pgs
$7.99,ISBN-10: 0-689-86278-4
Reviewed by Forrest
Bored with his parents boring religion, Jason Bock invents a new religion and a new god, the town’s water tower. His first recruit is his best friend shin obsesses over writing the bible of chutengodians. He soon gets his crush (Magada Price) and violent Henry Stagg to join.
When they hold their first ceremony on top of the water tower thing go from just a joke to deadly. Creating a religion is a lot easier than controlling one, but he must control it.
Holes
By Louis Sachar
Scholastic Inc, 1998, pp., 233, $6.99
ISBN 0-439-24419-6
Reviewed by Maria
“Good thinking,” said Mr. Sir. “Nobody runs away from here. We don’t need a fence. Know why? Because we’ve got the only water for a hundred miles. You want to run away? You’ll be buzzard food in three days.”
In this book, Stanley Yelnats’s family has a history of bad luck. He gets sent away to a boys’ juvenile detention center, Camp Green Lake. But it isn’t a lake. It has been dry for over a hundred years. Camp Green Lake is a punishment for boys who break the law. So, they have to dig one hole every day in the blazing hot weather.
In this book the author writes about flashbacks on what happened in the olden days about Camp Green Lake. This book is very good. It’s exciting and adventurous. I recommend this book to anyone. This is one of my favorite books!
Private
Kate Brian Simon and Schuster, 2006, Pp.240 $8.99
ISBN: 0-14-250155-7
Reed Brennen is different. She doesn’t have nice clothes and lots of money like the other kids at Easton Academy. Reed is from a small town, has almost no money, and has an alcoholic mother. When Reed meets the mysterious Billings girls, the most popular girls in the entire Easton Academy, she decides she will do anything to become one of them. The Billings girls have everything Reed could ever want. The only way for her to fit in at Easton Academy is to be accepted into the Billings house and become friends with these girls. As Reed tries to win over the Billings girls, she realizes just how hard her dream of being a Billings girl will be.
Kate Brian is an extraordinary writer. You can relate to the characters and understand every choice that they make and why they did it. Her writing is detailed and descriptive so it’s easy to see what’s happening in the book. She slows everything down and makes it clear what she’s trying to say. Every emotion the characters have are easily understood from the description. Private is the first book in the Private series. I would recommend this book to mostly girls but anyone could read it. This is a great book to start out an excellent series.
-Brooke
Sealed With a Diss Brown and Company, 2007, 248pp., $9.99,
Lisi Harrison ISBN- 10:0-316-11506-1
Massie’s life was perfect. She had the friends, the popularity, and the sassiest attitude around. Everything was going great until Skye walked into her life.
Skye is the most popular 8th grade alpha at Octavian Country Day School, and she pretty much wants to make Massie’s life miserable. Skye is forcing Massie to get Skye a boyfriend, or else she can kiss her popularity goodbye. Skye doesn’t want just any boyfriend, Chris Abeley. Chris Abeley was Massie’s old crush. Not to mention that he is three years older than Skye. Will Chris ever like Skye or will he fall for another girl?
Lisi Harrison really knows how to hook readers into a series! Her writing is incredible. There is so much description, thoughts and feelings of each character in the book. In this book, you learn that promise keeping is a really good thing to have in life.
I loved this book! I thought that this book brought a little fun into my life. I would recommend this book to any teenage girl who wants to spunk up their boring lives!
-Hannah
Before I Die
Jenny Downham
Davis Flickling Books, 2007, 242 pages
$15.99, 987-0-385-75155-1
Reviewed by: Kendall
The realistic fiction book Before I Die is filled with laughter and heartbreak. Tessa has just found out that she is diagnosed with leukemia and she is both scared and heartbroken. To get over the fear she makes a list of things to do before she dies, soon this list leads to thing she never expected, like meeting Adam, and learning more and more about her family and friends that she never would of ever even thought of. Throughout reading this book I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next.
Down ham does a great job a great job bringing the characters to life, by the end of the book I felt as if I was a part of the tragedy. I definitely recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a heart felt book.
Saving Zoë
By: Alyson Noël, St. Martin’s Griffin, 2007, 230 pages
$8.95, ISBN 0-312-35510-6
Reviewed by Kendall
Echo is just starting her freshmen year, but instead of thinking about the usual high school joys, she is thinking about the brutal murder of her sister Zoë. Echo is just about to give up on her sister forever, when marc, Zoë’s old boyfriend, hands Echo her sister’s old diary. At first Echo refuses to read it, thinking she already knew about her sister’s old life. But as doors started to close for Echo she turns to her Zoë’s diary more answers. Little did she know, that by reading the journal entrees, she was doing more than just learning more about her sister, but she was really Saving Zoë.
Noël really brings out the emotions in these characters. Throughout reading this book I felt as if I was living through the murder of Zoë. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a mystery love-filled book. This novel will hold anyone’s attention and they wont be able to put it down.
Stoner & Spaz
Ron Koertge
Candlewick press, 169 pp., $6.99,
ISBN-0-329-37570-9
Ben Bancroft is a sixteen year old that struggles with cerebral palsy. At school he is labeled an outcast, a loser, no one wants to be seen with him. He hides himself in the local theater, where it is dark. He spends all his time alone. That is before he runs into Colleen: a drug addicted, tattooed, fellow high schooler. A strange friendship begins and grows into more. Colleen tries to draw Ben out of his shell, away from an overprotective grandmother who has been raising him since his mother left him. At the same time, a neighbor is helping Ben with a documentary called High School Confidential. In the end, the two end up choosing a lifestyle of their own, Colleen goes back to her self destructive way of life, and Ben is thinking of going to film school.
This book is about drugs, friendship, and teen anarchy. Ben is a spaz and Colleen is a stoner. Two of the most different people hangout and become friends. Stoner and Spaz is an amazing book that has violence, language and drug references. It has everything I was hoping for in a book. This book is one I didn’t want to stop reading. Every other book I’ve read before this were ones I never want to read again but this one I wouldn’t mind reading over and over again.
-Sawyer
A Corner of the Universe
Ann M. Martin
Scholastic Press, $15.95, copyright 2002 189 pages, ISBN 0-439-38880-5
Twelve year-old Hattie Owen lives in a boarding house owned by her parents in a small town called Millerton. She learns about an uncle named Adam who she has never heard of before. Adam has mental disabilities and has to come to Millerton when the institution for the mentally disabled that he attended, closes. After spending time with him, Hattie learns that Adam has memorized every episode of “I Love Lucy” and can name the day of the week for any day in history. Hattie’s grandparents live nearby and are one of the wealthiest families in their town. They are picky about manners and the appearance of their family, and disapprove of the carnival when it comes to town.
This a good, short book about the friendship of Hattie and Adam over the summer they spend together. I think someone could learn a lot from this book and from Hattie’s experience. The title of the book comes from its theme, which is to change what’s given to you, explore, poke around or “lift the corners”. Ann Martin is also the co-author of The Doll People and The Doll People 2 and author of The Baby-sitters Club series. She is a very good writer and I definitely recommend this book.
-Kristen
Ever since the killings at Pleasant Valley, Central High School is taking major precautions to prevent a school shooting. The school hired a grief and guidance counselor named Dr.Wilner to strengthen security and take away privileges. Ever since that day, kids have started disappearing.
Tom Bishop is curious about the new Counselor and the strange disappearings. After one of his friends gets taken away, he begins to wonder if he or anyone else will be next.
After has become close to my heart with its gripping contents. Every chapter of this book will drag you on and keep you reading all night long. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys books that have a school setting. I would give this book an 8.5 out of ten, and if you read it I hope you will enjoy it just as much as I did.
The Clique
Lisi Harrison
17th Street Productions, $4.99, 2004
220 pgs, ISBN # 0-316-70129-7
Massie Block is basically royalty. She lives in a mansion, has all designer clothes, and gets everything she wants. She has a group of friends: Alicia, Dylan, and Kristen. They all live perfect lives just like Massie but not as rich. Did I mention they are the most popular group called the Clique? Of course Massie is the leader and Dylan, Alicia, and Kristen follow her around.
As it gets closer to the first day of school, Massie is hit with a surprise. Mr. Block gives Massie the news that his friend and family are coming to live at their house until they could get a house. Claire Lyons is Mr. Lyons’ daughter who wears Gap and Keds. Massie sees her and automatically hates her. She also becomes a complete outsider.
Harrison doesn’t have chapters; she divides The Clique into scenes based on the location of the characters. This gives the book more prospective on what the characters’ think of that certain problem.
I would recommend this book because it gives so many thoughts and feelings. The Clique also gives a lot of advice for teenage girls that are having problems with meeting new people. The Clique is the first book in a nine book series.
- Sophia
Sealed With A Diss
Lisi Harrison
Little, Brown and Company, 2007,248 pages, $9.99, 0-316-11506-1
After a competition with other 7th grade girls, the Pretty Committee is now the owner of a secret room at Octavian Country Day for their 8th grade year. At the end of every year the 8th grade alphas hand down the room key to the 7th graders. The Pretty Committee has heard rumors about what past 8th graders have done with the room and are making plans of their own for what they will do. One of the most important things in the room is ESP. This gives them access to a class where the boys share their problems and secrets. There is a hidden camera in the class that is hooked up to a TV in the secret room. Massie, the alpha of the Pretty Committee, makes a deal with the 8th grade alpha, Skye Hamilton. Skye is having an end of the year party and wants Chris Abeley as her date. If Massie can get Chris to go with Skye while also finding dates for everyone in the Pretty Committee (Herself, Claire, Dylan, Alicia and Kristen), then they get the room early and if she doesn’t they lose the room forever. Skye allows them to watch ESP for a couple minutes each day to help find their dates but for Claire who already has a boyfriend, the ESP might do more harm than good.
This is a great book for girls and it is my favorite series of books so far. Sealed With A Diss is the 8th book in the clique series. The others are The Clique, Best Friends For Never, Revenge of the Wannabes, Invasion of the Boysnatchers, The Pretty Committee Strikes Back, Dial L For Loser, It’s Not Easy Being Mean and the newest one is Bratfest At Tiffany’s. I would say the theme for this book is to be yourself and don’t try to be someone different to get certain people to like you.
-Kristen
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Hoot
Carl Hiaasen
Random House, 2005, 304pp., $6.99
ISBN 9780440419396
In Hoot three very different people come together to save the endangered owls living at the Mother Paula's construction site. There's Roy, an average boy at the local high school. Beatrice, soccer jock and popular girl. Then Mullet Fingers, the homeless, boarding school dropout, nature boy. They send a note to the company telling them about building on the owls, pull up all the survey sticks, and even put alligators in the toilets! But they won't stop getting ready to build Mother Paula's. When groundbreaking day comes will they not build or will the little owls die?
I think this realistic fiction novel was phenomenal and had a good point, about saving the owls. I loved the plot and thought it was intriguing with all the action. I can't imagine putting so many events, one after one, in three hundred and four pages. It is written in a third persons point of view so it feels like I'm watching it, not in Roy's head. It is a lot like Flush, where the characters are also dealing with environmental issues, also by Carl Hiaasen. If you like animals, community service, and trying to make a difference, you would like this book. It is an extravagant book.
Klepto
Jenny Pollack
Penguin Group, 2006, 271pp., $16.99
ISBN 9780670060610
Meet Julie Prodsky, the new girl at the High School of Performing Arts in New York. She has no friends, but then Julie Braverman shows up. She is the beautiful, popular girl with the to-die-for wardrobe! When Julie P. finds out the secret to Julie B.'s to-die-for wardrobe -shoplifting- she has a new best friend. Soon after, Julie P. has a closet full of stolen clothes and a new boyfriend. Then Julie P.'s conscience steps in. She is blinded by the clothes and doesn't realize how much trouble she's in. Will Julie B. dump her as a friend if she stops stealing?
I really loved this fast paced read. It has an interesting plot with all the stealing and how she did it. I adored the drama throughout the book between the two Julie's. Written in Julie P.'s point of view I understand why she thought it was okay to steal. Jenny Pollack changed the way that I think about relationships between best friends and boys and girls. I will definitely never steal after reading Klepto. Another great book is Gender Blender by Blake Nelson. It's about a boy and girl that switch bodies and can't switch back until they break the curse! I would recommend Klepto to girls that like books about best friends and relationships.
-Mercedes
If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where’s My Prince?
Melissa Kantor, $15.99, pages: 283,
Hyperion, 2005, ISBN: 078680960-4
Reviewed by: Lindsey
For Lucy, life is certainly not a fairytale. When Lucy’s father remarries a woman named Mara, makes her move into her house in New York, and brings Mara’s two evil twelve-year-old daughters into Lucy’s life, it is turned upside down. Lucy’s mother died when she was three. When she met Mara, the hope of having a nice mother again was not likely. Lucy finds herself living Cinderella’s life. She is forced to live in the basement and sleeps on an air mattress, while her stepsisters sleep in their own rooms with furniture upstairs. But what happens when Glen Lake High School’s prince charming, Connor, comes in to her life? Suddenly she is no longer the invisible girl at school. Now all she needs is her life at home to take a turn for the better. Will it?
This novel is a classic Cinderella story with a surprising twist at the end. Maybe Lucy’s life will have a happy ever after. This novel is a gripping story about the wills and wits of a young girl who is determined to make her life take a turn for the better. I recommend this book to any girl who wants a good read. You will be wrapped up in Lucy’s life from start to finish. Melissa Kantor uses great imagery and details in this gripping and deep novel. This realistic fiction book will have you on the edge of your seat from the very beginning.
All American Girl
Meg Cabot, Harper Trophy,
Pages: 398, 2002, $16.99,
ISBN: 0-060447277
Reviewed by: Lindsey
Samantha Madison is a high school social outcast; she has her own style, and would rather hang out, and do art at home then go out and have pizza with friends like most of the kids at her school. In other words, she is known as a “freak”. However everything is about to change and Samantha Madison has no idea. One day when she is walking out of Suzan Boones art studio in Washington D.C. where she is forced to take art lessons, the president pulls up in a limo at the cookie store next to the art studio, and there happens to be a strange man pointing a gun at the president! Samantha has two choices (1) run and hide or (2) jump on his back and try to save the president. Samantha Madison chooses two, and breaks her arm in the process.
Suddenly Samantha’s life is no longer boring. Everyone wants to be her friend, or have her over to their house, or have her join their club. Maybe choice two wasn’t so bad even though she broke her arm. What will happen when has dinner at the white house and becomes friends with the president’s son, David?
This realistic fiction novel is a story of a courageous girl who risked her life to save someone else’s and the consequences aren’t so bad. Meg Cabot uses great details to tell the story of a heroic young girl. You can picture every moment of this captivating novel. I recommend this novel to any girl who wants to indulge in the story about a girl who becomes a hero overnight. On a scale from one to ten I give All American Girl a ten. This addicting novel will have you wondering what comes next with every page you read. It will become one of your all time favorite novels in a heartbeat.
A Dogs Life
Ann M. Martin
Year 2002 182pgs.
ISBN# 0-439-90107-3 SCHOLASTIC
Reviewed by Angela
This book is about the struggle of a born stray named Squirrel, and her brother bone. She has been every kind of dog from abused to the gentalest touch. Good food and scraps to just about starving.
This is one of my favorite dog books. If you liked the book Stray dog you’ll love this realistic fiction book. By the time I was finished I was cuddled up next to my dog hugging him the whole time.
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life
Wendy Maas, Little, Brown Young Readers, 2006, 304 pp.,
$6.99, ISBN 0316058491
Jeremy Fink is a twelve-year old living in a New York City apartment with his mom. His best friend is a girl named Lizzy, who lives next door.
A month before Jeremy’s birthday a mysterious box is delivered to him. Carved words on the beautiful wooden box say ‘ THE MEANING OF LIFE FOR JEREMY FINK ON HIS THIRTEENTH BIRTHDAY’. There are four keyholes, but no keys were delivered with the box.
Wendy Maas tells the story of how Jeremy and Lizzy look for the keys while they learn a very important lesson of life. I would recommend this book to anyone.
-Lan
Prep
Curtis Sittenfeld
Random House, 2005, 403 pages
ISBM-8129-7235-x, $13,95
Reviewed by Kendall King
“Mom, Dad, can I go to boarding school?” These were Lee’s exact words when she first decided to go to boarding school. Little did she know that the next four years of her life would be nothing she expected. She was faced with being just another scholar girl surrounded with rich people, the boy she is in love with doesn’t no she exist, and she just found out what her roommate truly feels about her.
This realistic fiction book Prep is a great book for anyone who loves a great novel filled with gossip, drama, and romance. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone
title, Monster
price,6.99
ISBN#978-0-06-440731-1
year, 1999
pages, 281
publisher, Harper Collins
author, Walter Myers
review by. marc teal
James king is a 16 year old boy. He is in trial for the murder of the cashier at the local store. While he is in court they decide to make a movie about the murder.
I recommend this book to any one that like realistic fiction murder stories. I think this book is well written. There is always something going on from fighting and yelling or just times in the court room. This book is written like screen play so its easy to follow along.
The Truth About Forever
Published in New York, NY: Viking 2004 374 pp., $7.99
Sarah Dessen ISBN 0-670-03639-0
Macy Queen was a perfect teenage girl. She had a wonderful family, got good grades, and was an awesome track star. But one fateful day while running she catches up to her dad, and finds him on the ground struggling for breath, with an unknown stranger attempting CPR. The ambulance comes, but it’s too late.
It’s now three years later and since the death of her father Macy has given up running and isolated herself from her friends. Her boyfriend, Jason, also just broke up with her over e-mail leaving her with his old boring library information desk job. She even believes that if she can be the perfect child for her mother then everything will be right again.
But everything changes when Macy meets the catering crew at one of her mothers Queen Homes Real Estate parties. She starts working with them and learns to open up to other people, especially Wes who also knows what it feels like to lose a parent.
But what will happen when Jason suddenly comes back for Macy? What path will she take and who will she choose to become?
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a romantic, realistic fictional story. Sarah Dessen draws you in with extraordinary description and she allows you to fully understand the character’s emotions.
~ Emily
The Clique- Bratfest at Tiffany’s
Lisi Harrison
Alloy Entertainment Publishers 2008, pp. 227
$9.99, ISBN- 978-0-316-00680-4
Reviewed by Emily
It’s the first day of school and the Pretty Committee is ready to start the new year as the head alphas of eighth grade. This was a dream come true! The only people standing in their way are the boys from Briarwood Academy who will now be combining with the Octavian Country Day School (OCD) girls into one school. Will this jeopardize the Pretty Committee’s alpha status? Will the boys be the new alphas? Ahhhh!
To avoid any problems, Massie Block (Head alpha of Pretty Committee) declares a boyfast, and changes their name to the ‘New Pretty Committee’. No flirting, no talking, no texting, nothing! If anyone is caught doing the following they are OUT. Forever. But this only makes things much worse. Was this Massie’s cry for help? Instead of bringing the five girls closer together, it might just tear them apart.
When the combined schools get split up into Main Building and Overflow Trailers everyone in the New Pretty Committee get put into Overflow except Alicia Rivera who secretly made it so that she would be in Main Building with Josh Hotz, her secret crush. But she doesn’t want to be kicked out of the New Pretty Committee forever. Can she do both?
This is a great book for girls and for people who like realistic fiction. Lisi Harrison helps the reader understand each character’s point of view by switching roles between chapters. This book helps a reader understand the important and not so important things in life.
Give a Boy a Gun 208 pgs. $4.99
Todd Strasser ISBN# 0-689-84-893-5
Brendan and Gary are fed up with getting treated terribly by the jocks at Middle Town High. Gary is the more mature one of them, but he has a different side to him. Brendan is the more immature one, but they are both in the same boat. The main person who is making their lives miserable is a guy called Sam Flatch. He terrorizes Brenden and Gary until they lose it. They steal an arsenol of guns and take everyone hostage at the school dance. Could anyone have stopped this, or will Brenden and Gary get revenge?
I highly recommend this book for the readers who like suspense and not just any ordinary book. This is the best book that I have ever read.
-Keenan
The Bad Beginning
Lemony Snicket,
Publisher: Egmont First British Edition, September 2003, 162 pages,
$14.99, ISBN # 0-06-440766-7
Reviewed by Keenan Roche
They call this book A Series of Unfortunate Events for a reason. The Baurderline children, Sunny, Klaus, and Violet are put into an orphanage after a house fire that their mom and dad died in. Their parent’s will says that they have to live with their closest relative if anything bad happens, and their closest relative is Count Olaf. He lives in a old mansion that is huge, and makes the kids clean every square inch of it. The Baurderlines hate him so they try to escape from the house, but that isn’t very easy to do because Count Olaf is sneaky.
I liked this book so much that immediately after I read it I got the second book in the series, and it never got boring, so it was hard to put down. The authors style of writing is from a narrorators point of view. The genre of this book would be realistic fiction. I recommend this book to anyone who likes good books.
year published 2003
ISBN:0-15-204774-3
Title: the after life
Author: Gary Soto
Name: Christopher
pages 189
As I lay there hopelessly in the restroom floor drenched in my blood I was telling
Myself, Jesus, why is this happening to me. As I was telling myself that a boy walked in
And ran out of the restroom yelling dead person in the restroom.
A boy just about to Finish Up high school goes to meet his soon to be girlfriend at a minors club when he goes into the restroom. But when a mysterious person walks in to the restroom the story takes a Turn
Gary Soto really pulls the reader in to this suspenseful book. I recommend This Book to anyone who can stand sad and suspenseful books
Title: PARROT IN THE OVEN
Author: VICTOR MARTINEZ
Chris
School is starting for 14 year old for many. School is only one of mannys problems though he is living with an abusive father that drinks 24/7 and is growing up around gang activity. Mannys father thinks that there is many people in the world but he thinks that many is just a low life Mexican boy. Many wants to show his dad that he is not a low life and that he can get respect but in mannys neihborhood the only way to do that is to be in a gang.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes books that are page-turners and books that make you want to know what happens at the end. To anyone who liked number of the stars you will love this book I loved this book so much I finished in about 2 and a half days. People who like books about when the main character is in a hard situation in his or her life and doesn’t know where to turn you then this is a book you should in the future or know should read.
Ten Things to do Before I Die Delacorte Press, 2004, 219pp., $6.99
Daniel Ehrenhaft ISBN 0-385-90912-8
What would you do if you knew you were going to die in 24 hours? Would you go to the hospital and try to survive or would you try to live your last 24 hours. to the fullest? This is the decision facing Ted Burger in 10 Things to do Before I Die.
Ted Burger was a regular kid at 8 am on Tuesday morning, but when he went to a fast food place with his friends his life changes forever. Mark, his best friend, has accused Ted of boring and has started a list of things that
Ted should do during spring break. As Mark is finishing the list Ted finds out that an angry employee poisoned the fries that he ate at the restaurant. The employee said that whoever ate the fries would die in 24 hours Mark kept encouraging Ted to go to the hospital, but Ted decides that if he’s going to die then he wants to make sure that he dies living his life to the fullest.
Daniel Ehrenhaft writes amazingly by making a character that truly catches your mind so that you can never put it down. I absolutely loved this book because it is all about finding your true self, but is also extremely funny. I recommend this book for boys and girls above 10 (because of inappropriate things) who feel like they need excitement in their life. 10 Things to do Before I Die is a perfect story about living life in the fast lane.
By: Natasha
Then again, maybe I won't Simon & Schuster, 1971, pp.164,$6.50
Judy Blume ISBN # 0-02-711090-7
Tony a soon to be 7th grader, finds out that he will be moving at the beginning of summer, to Rosemont, a really wealthy neighborhood. Well, wealthy to Tony anyway. When he moves to his new house in Rosemont he makes a new friend, Joel. During the summer they like to go places, like the mall. When they are in the mall somebody steals something. Is it Tony or is it Joel. To discover the thief read, Then again, maybe I won't by Judy Blume.
I liked the book because it was sad and also very adventurous. I just love Judy Blume's realistic fiction books.
I would recommend this book to anyone over the age of ten.
Flying Solo by Ralph Fletcher
Houghton Mifflin Company
© 1998 $15.00 p.p.144
ISBN – 0395873231
What would you do if your substitute didn’t show up? Would you A) Party! or B) Be on your best behavior? Well in Ralph Fletchers novel he shows how this wide variety of sixth grade students must band together to keep from getting caught when their teacher (Mr. Fabinos and the sub.) don’t show up. This class is your average class. Rachel is that one girl who never talks. She hasn’t talked since Tommy Feathers - Rachel’s admirer, died the night she said she will never ever like him. This book is my all time favorite. I’ve read it three times and each time I read it I love it more and more! Ralph Fletcher did a fantastic job in this book He used so much detail; it made a movie in my mind! I recommend this book to mostly people younger than the eighth grade.
Reviewed by Hannah
Judi Picoult
My Sister’s Keeper
448pp. $25.00
ISBN 0-743-45453-7
“They don’t really pay attention to me, except when they need my blood, or something. I wouldn’t even be alive if I wasn’t for Kate being sick.” How would you like to be the one saying this? Do you think you could handle being genetically altered to save someone with cancer? Would you ever think of suing your parents?
My Sister’s Keeper will make you want to cry. It is about a young girl who is suing her parents for the rights to her own body. Her sister has Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL). APL is a cancer of the blood. She needs a transplant of healthy bone marrow to trick her body into thinking it is healthy. Anna is being used to get the healthy bone marrow, and she is not to happy about it.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves books that have sad or emotional events. Picoult is a great writer. She has many phenomenal books but I would say that this is her very best one ever.
AUTUMN
Bratfest At Tiffany’s Little Brown & Company, 2008, 227pp., $9.99
Lisi Harrison ISBN 0-316-00680-7
What would you do if you went from being the most popular girl in the entire school to being a complete LBR (loser beyond repair)? The main character in Bratfest At Tiffany’s, Massie, used to be super cool and popular until the boys invaded her school. The boy’s school across the street flooded, so now their school has gone co-ed. Now Massie’s popularity is going down hill. Massie has decided that her and her friends are going on a boyfast, which means that they aren’t allowed to date any boys. What will happen when Massie finds out that her friends are dating boys behind her back? Will they all stay friends or will Massie kick them out of her life forever? You will have to read Bratfest At Tiffany’s to find out.
This fictional book mainly takes place at Massie’s school, OCD (Octavian Country Day). Lisi Harrison does a great job of writing this book through Massie’s point of view. I always knew exactly what was happening and what Massie was feeling. The book also includes the girls’ emails and text messages. I recommend this book mainly to teenage girls who are interested in drama, boys, and friendships.
-Megan
Summer Ball Penguin Group (U.S.A.), 2005, 288 pp., $7.99
Mike Lupica ISBN: 0399244875
Danny is tiny, and everyone thinks he looks ten years old, but he is really thirteen. This haunts him because he is compared to his dad, who was a famous basketball player. After his dad creates a travel basketball team, they win nationals. Soon after Danny attends an elite basketball camp with Ty and Will, his best friends. He is scared to go to camp because he is going to play with bigger, stronger, and older kids. He will be faced with many problems including his height, wanting to leave, and hateful, jealous players.
I thought it was such a spiffy book. It had realistic dialogue and convincing characters. As a reader, I could really relate to Danny’s feelings, thoughts, and movements because the story is written from his point of view.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys sports, because you can relate to him because he loves sports too. This book has a lot of determination, effort, and not giving up. One night I missed dinner because I wanted to finish this book, so badly. This is the best book I have ever read, 100%.
-Weston
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Travel Team Penguin Group (U.S.A.), 2005, 288 pp., $7.99
Mike Lupica ISBN: 9280142404621
Have you ever been looking forward to making a team sport? Have you ever been cut from that same team? This is exactly what happened to Danny, a really good basketball player. He was fast, great at passing, great at dribbling, and pretty good at shooting. The only thing that he lacked was his height. He was very mad about being short, because he heard; the team was looking for tall people. When Danny’s dad visited him they talk about is height. His dad thought of ways to try and help Danny. He talked to the coach- that didn’t help. Then all of the sudden he came up with a great idea: create a travel team for all the people who didn’t make the first one. Danny’s dad goes around and asks the rejects. They started off horrible, but they got a little better. Finally, they receive an unexpected addition to the team, and no one could imagine what happened next, not even the coach...
I deeply enjoyed this book because of the realistic characters. I could relate to Danny so much because I am just like him, short, fast, and I like to play some basketball. I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys sports and great conflicts.
- Weston
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Heat Penguin Group (USA), 2007, pp. 240, $7.99
Mike Lupica ISBN: 9780142407578
Michael was the best pitcher in his entire league. He could throw a baseball 80mph! That would’ve made your catchers hand fall off unless the catcher was your best friend and you practiced with him a lot. After Michael moved to the U.S.A. from Japan with his brother and dad, they made a living in New York. Soon after the move Michael’s dad died. Michael’s brother isn’t old enough to raise Michael yet. Michael and his brother had to tell everyone that there dad went away so they wouldn’t get adopted. They thought it was going to be easy until a tragedy catches them at the wrong time.
Since Michael was spectacular at baseball, a lot of the coaches on opposite teams thought he was older. When they tried to prove that he was older than he says he is, they figured out that his birth certificate is missing! Michael felt like he was torn from another close love, the baseball diamond.
This book pulled me right into the scenes of Michael’s life and feelings. The dialogue and the realistic characters helped me understand what Michael was feeling and what he was thinking. I recommend this book to any sports loving reader.
-Weston
The Clique
Lisi Harrison
Little Brown, 2004, 220pp, $9.99
ISBN 0-316-70129-7
Claire is the main character of The Clique. Claire is a simple could-care-less- about-herself kind of person. When she moves because her house flooded back in Florida she moves in to the Block family’s guesthouse. She doesn’t know the family so things start out tough because Claire had a hard time fitting in with everyone. The Block family had a daughter Claire’s age and her name was Massie. She wasn’t the nicest, but Claire knew she was going have to get a long with her. In Massie’s world, she hated Claire because she had the ugliest cloths and never looked beautiful, she was an embarrassment to her and she could really use a makeover. Does Claire get through it or does she meet some new friends that made her fit in more with her style?
Lisi Harrison is a fantastic writer and creating very realistic moments like when Massie describes what she is always wearing. That seemed to create a movie in my head. For example when Massie goes to one of her boyfriends soccer games it was well described and it felt like I was there. I recommend this book to anyone who loves realistic books and is ready to get mad at someone for doing something wrong. It’s a great book and it’s a series so that makes it even better.
Reviewed by Brittany
‘Hatchet’ Bradbury Press, 1987 195 pp,. $6.99
Gary Paulson ISBN 0-02-770130-1
What would you do if your plane crashed in the middle of a Canadian forest? Would you search for food, try to get help? This question is one that Brian has to answer.
Brian is your average thirteen-year-old boy whose parents have divorced. His mother takes him to an airport where he gets on a two- seated plane to go see his father, in Canada, for the summer. Before Brian leaves, his mother gives him a hatchet as a good-bye present. Brian accepts the gift, and pretends to like it, but he knows he has no use for it. Brian boards the two-seated airplane. While in flight Brian senses that there is something wrong when the pilot suddenly starts jerking. When the pilot has a heart attack, the plane goes down and crashes. Brian survives, but the pilot does not. He is left alone to survie in the wild.
Gary Paulson does a great job of describing what’s going on in a second person point of view. This let me visualize everything behind my eyes, as if it was an exciting movie.
This suspenseful book had me on my toes the whole way through. I would give this a 10 out of 10 stars. This book had me hooked the entire way though. I would this awesome novel to all readers over ten.
-Keegan
You Know You Love Me 17 Street Productions, 2002, 225 pp, $10.99
Cecily Van Ziccresar ISBN: 978-0-316-91148-1
The drama, the drama, this book is full of boy, college, and friend drama. Everyone likes the wrong person and some certain people are getting very mad. All Blair wants is a guy to love her and to get in to Yale. But when the guy that she thinks she loves cheats on her for a younger girl, Blair is furious. Could this affect her chance to get into Yale, or does she get revenge and get over it?
Serena, Blair’s ex. Best friend goes away for the summer, and comes back to find that she has no friends. Except for one guy who is freakishly in love with her. Does she get her friends back, and does she ditch the freak?
Finally Blair’s mom is getting married to a creep. Her mom is so excited so Blair doesn’t say much, but when she finds out that her mom invited Serena (Blair’s Ex. Best friend) to the wedding. Nothing can stop her from being that brat she really is.
Serena and Blair are only two of the many main characters in this book. The style of writing this author uses is unique. He switches off character point of view every chapter, so you always know what’s going on in this realistic fiction book.
This is a fabulous book that will keep you hook from the first page to the last. I recommend this to book to mainly girls because; this is a book about drama, and boys. I couldn’t put this book down till the very end.
by,
Ali
Here Today Scholastic, © 2004, 308 pp., $5.99,
Ann M. Martin ISBN 0- 439- 57945- 7
How would you feel if your mother left you to become a movie star? Well, that is what Ellie’s mother, Doris Day, did to her. Ellie is very shy, and only has one true friend, Holly. Ellie’s mother expects her to be outgoing, popular, and perfect, but Ellie isn’t any of those things.
Ellie’s mother isn’t like other moms. She always has to look her best; she makes everyone (even her kids) call her Doris Day even though that isn’t her real name, and is always trying to find a way to get attention. Ellie started to notice that her mom would start to come home later and later each night, sometimes she didn’t even come home at all. Then one day she comes home from modeling and says, “Guys, I am moving to New York City! I am going to be famous!” Ellie feels confusion about this. Now that her mom left, Ellie has to take on responsibilities for her family, friends, and life. Will she be able to do it?
Ann M. Martin is a fantastic author; she makes you feel you’re in the world of Ellie, there are thoughts and feelings of the characters everywhere you turn, and she always leaves you hanging on the end of each chapter. This book is filled with sadness and happiness. I would recommend this book to any teenage girl who knows what it is like to lose a parent, or a person who just loves to read! I truly loved this book and I hope others will, too. This book brought me faith and hope.
-Hannah
It’s Not Easy Being Mean New York: Little, Brown, 2007, 193 pp, $4.99
Lisi Harrison ISBN: 0-316-11505-6
In the book It’s Not Easy Being Mean, “The Pretty Committee” thinks that they have the secret room all to themselves, but when they find out that they have to fight for it; its war. Massie, the most powerful girl in the school is dropping on the social scale fast and its scaring her. If she loses to the LBR’s (losers beyond repair) to get the secret room then her popularity and reputation are down the drain, but if she wins, she gets the key to the room and the key to redeem her popularity. Yet do they know that this simple game is going to turn in to a nightmare and friendships will be lost and love will be broken?
The genre of this book is realistic fiction. The author switches off point of views and adds a lot of thoughts and feelings. So, you are never confused about what’s going on. I recommend this book to girls mainly because it is kind of a chick flick. This is a great book that has you wondering till the very last page.
-Ali
Be More Chill
Ned Vizzini
Miramax Book, 2004, 283pages, $6.99
ISBN-0786809957
Jeremy is your classical nerd. He isn’t the best looking or cool and he also isn’t smart. He also likes this beautiful girl that he thinks he can never approach. He tries really hard to get Penelope to like him but he can never get her full attention because guys always surround her. When he figures out he can’t do it by himself and is about to give up, he hears of a brain chip called a squip that will get him girls and good grades. Jeremy swallows and it changes his life forever.
This book was great from page one to two hundred eighty three. You will never want to put it down. Be more chill is a realistic book about high school life. I recommend it to all ages above 10. Ned Vizzini wrote a must read book.
~Hayden
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian
Sherman Alexie
Little Brown Company, 2007, 230 pages
ISBN-10:0-316-01368-4
Arnold Spirit aka Junior has lived on an Indian reservation his whole entire life. Junior lives in a beaten and broken down house with his sister Mary and his parents. He lives a boring life that he wants to change. Then when Junior throws a book at his teacher he gets a newsflash to try and make his life better. Then he asks his parents if they could transfer him to Rearden High school because it has a better education program than the high school at the rez. One problem: Reardon has only white kids in it. Now Junior must deal with being the minority in a sea of “white” faces.
Alexie tells you the good and bad things that happen in Arnold’s life. I recommend this book to anyone who likes realistic fiction. I liked this book a lot.
~Hayden
Forrest Gump
Winston Groom
Peach Creek Reality, 1986 241pp., $13.00
ISBN:0-7434-5325-5
Imagine being mentally challenged, but still being able to have amazing accomplishments. This tall tale is about a loveable guy named Forrest Gump. This book takes place is Greenbow, Alabama. This book is about a man with everything against him, but still goes on to do amazing things. He was an amazing historical figure in this book. Like he goes on to save Mao, and plays world-class ping-pong.
In this book the author portrays a man that has quite an exciting life. It goes from event to event with almost perfect transition. Everything the author writes about ties into life. Like he joins the army and meets a man named Bubba. Bubba wants to go into the shrimping business, but is killed. So after the war Forrest starts a company called Bubba Gump. That’s a real seafood restaurant. I recommend this book to anyone who has seen the movie or likes to read about real life events.
This book will keep you entertained for hours. It will have you laughing and always on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens to Forrest next.
Shooter
Walter Dean Myers
Harpers Children Books, 2004, 240 pp., $7.99
ISBN:978-0-06-447-290-6
What happens when you’re the one involved in a school shooting? This is what happens to Cameron, a quiet kid with a friend named Leonard. Leonard is a very “dark” kid that keeps to himself. He is always talking about shooting guns, killing stuff with guns, but one day he snaps and decides to bring a gun to school. Leonard’s ex-girlfriend Carla who still hangs out with them feels like something wrong.
Leonard says, “ I’m going to paint my blood all over the school walls.” And that’s when it starts to all go wrong.
The author’s style is very unique. He writes this book like an interview. Many different officials in Harrison County interview Cameron and Carla about the school shooting and about Leonard. I think this book was sad, but very true, because school shootings do really happen. I rate this book a ten, because of the reality and how the characters emotions were shown throughout the book. The book also showed what kind of people the characters were in the book. It showed their emotions and what problems they had. I give this book, Shooter two thumbs up. I also plan to read many other titles by Walter Dean Myers. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in realistic fiction and likes to find out about what happens in the world and the consequences.`
By: Alex
Cut
Patricia McCormick
PUSH, 2000, 151 pgs
$7.00, ISBN 0-439-32459-9
Reviewed by Forrest
Callie is a teenager who is sent to Sea Pines for cutting herself. She struggles through challenges on her own since she won’t talk to anyone. Just as she is starting to cope, her world gets flipped upside down when Amanda (another girl who cuts herself) comes into Sea Pines. This time when Callie cuts herself to deal with the anger she feels, she experiences something that will change her life forever.
Will Callie ever start talking? Will she ever get better? These are some of the questions I found myself asking when I was reading Cut. If you love realistic fiction then you should read this book. The author has her own unique writing style. She writes as if you were Callie’s therapist. If you ever wanted to know what it’s like to be in a crazy hospital or how it is to cut your self then you should read Cut.
Godless
Pete Hautman
Schuster children publishing, 2004,198pgs
$7.99,ISBN-10: 0-689-86278-4
Reviewed by Forrest
Bored with his parents boring religion, Jason Bock invents a new religion and a new god, the town’s water tower. His first recruit is his best friend shin obsesses over writing the bible of chutengodians. He soon gets his crush (Magada Price) and violent Henry Stagg to join.
When they hold their first ceremony on top of the water tower thing go from just a joke to deadly. Creating a religion is a lot easier than controlling one, but he must control it.
Holes
By Louis Sachar
Scholastic Inc, 1998, pp., 233, $6.99
ISBN 0-439-24419-6
Reviewed by Maria
“Good thinking,” said Mr. Sir. “Nobody runs away from here. We don’t need a fence. Know why? Because we’ve got the only water for a hundred miles. You want to run away? You’ll be buzzard food in three days.”
In this book, Stanley Yelnats’s family has a history of bad luck. He gets sent away to a boys’ juvenile detention center, Camp Green Lake. But it isn’t a lake. It has been dry for over a hundred years. Camp Green Lake is a punishment for boys who break the law. So, they have to dig one hole every day in the blazing hot weather.
In this book the author writes about flashbacks on what happened in the olden days about Camp Green Lake. This book is very good. It’s exciting and adventurous. I recommend this book to anyone. This is one of my favorite books!
Private
Kate Brian Simon and Schuster, 2006, Pp.240 $8.99
ISBN: 0-14-250155-7
Reed Brennen is different. She doesn’t have nice clothes and lots of money like the other kids at Easton Academy. Reed is from a small town, has almost no money, and has an alcoholic mother. When Reed meets the mysterious Billings girls, the most popular girls in the entire Easton Academy, she decides she will do anything to become one of them. The Billings girls have everything Reed could ever want. The only way for her to fit in at Easton Academy is to be accepted into the Billings house and become friends with these girls. As Reed tries to win over the Billings girls, she realizes just how hard her dream of being a Billings girl will be.
Kate Brian is an extraordinary writer. You can relate to the characters and understand every choice that they make and why they did it. Her writing is detailed and descriptive so it’s easy to see what’s happening in the book. She slows everything down and makes it clear what she’s trying to say. Every emotion the characters have are easily understood from the description. Private is the first book in the Private series. I would recommend this book to mostly girls but anyone could read it. This is a great book to start out an excellent series.
-Brooke
Sealed With a Diss Brown and Company, 2007, 248pp., $9.99,
Lisi Harrison ISBN- 10:0-316-11506-1
Massie’s life was perfect. She had the friends, the popularity, and the sassiest attitude around. Everything was going great until Skye walked into her life.
Skye is the most popular 8th grade alpha at Octavian Country Day School, and she pretty much wants to make Massie’s life miserable. Skye is forcing Massie to get Skye a boyfriend, or else she can kiss her popularity goodbye. Skye doesn’t want just any boyfriend, Chris Abeley. Chris Abeley was Massie’s old crush. Not to mention that he is three years older than Skye. Will Chris ever like Skye or will he fall for another girl?
Lisi Harrison really knows how to hook readers into a series! Her writing is incredible. There is so much description, thoughts and feelings of each character in the book. In this book, you learn that promise keeping is a really good thing to have in life.
I loved this book! I thought that this book brought a little fun into my life. I would recommend this book to any teenage girl who wants to spunk up their boring lives!
-Hannah
Before I Die
Jenny Downham
Davis Flickling Books, 2007, 242 pages
$15.99, 987-0-385-75155-1
Reviewed by: Kendall
The realistic fiction book Before I Die is filled with laughter and heartbreak. Tessa has just found out that she is diagnosed with leukemia and she is both scared and heartbroken. To get over the fear she makes a list of things to do before she dies, soon this list leads to thing she never expected, like meeting Adam, and learning more and more about her family and friends that she never would of ever even thought of. Throughout reading this book I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next.
Down ham does a great job a great job bringing the characters to life, by the end of the book I felt as if I was a part of the tragedy. I definitely recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a heart felt book.
Saving Zoë
By: Alyson Noël, St. Martin’s Griffin, 2007, 230 pages
$8.95, ISBN 0-312-35510-6
Reviewed by Kendall
Echo is just starting her freshmen year, but instead of thinking about the usual high school joys, she is thinking about the brutal murder of her sister Zoë. Echo is just about to give up on her sister forever, when marc, Zoë’s old boyfriend, hands Echo her sister’s old diary. At first Echo refuses to read it, thinking she already knew about her sister’s old life. But as doors started to close for Echo she turns to her Zoë’s diary more answers. Little did she know, that by reading the journal entrees, she was doing more than just learning more about her sister, but she was really Saving Zoë.
Noël really brings out the emotions in these characters. Throughout reading this book I felt as if I was living through the murder of Zoë. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a mystery love-filled book. This novel will hold anyone’s attention and they wont be able to put it down.
Stoner & Spaz
Ron Koertge
Candlewick press, 169 pp., $6.99,
ISBN-0-329-37570-9
Ben Bancroft is a sixteen year old that struggles with cerebral palsy. At school he is labeled an outcast, a loser, no one wants to be seen with him. He hides himself in the local theater, where it is dark. He spends all his time alone. That is before he runs into Colleen: a drug addicted, tattooed, fellow high schooler. A strange friendship begins and grows into more. Colleen tries to draw Ben out of his shell, away from an overprotective grandmother who has been raising him since his mother left him. At the same time, a neighbor is helping Ben with a documentary called High School Confidential. In the end, the two end up choosing a lifestyle of their own, Colleen goes back to her self destructive way of life, and Ben is thinking of going to film school.
This book is about drugs, friendship, and teen anarchy. Ben is a spaz and Colleen is a stoner. Two of the most different people hangout and become friends. Stoner and Spaz is an amazing book that has violence, language and drug references. It has everything I was hoping for in a book. This book is one I didn’t want to stop reading. Every other book I’ve read before this were ones I never want to read again but this one I wouldn’t mind reading over and over again.
-Sawyer
A Corner of the Universe
Ann M. Martin
Scholastic Press, $15.95, copyright 2002 189 pages, ISBN 0-439-38880-5
Twelve year-old Hattie Owen lives in a boarding house owned by her parents in a small town called Millerton. She learns about an uncle named Adam who she has never heard of before. Adam has mental disabilities and has to come to Millerton when the institution for the mentally disabled that he attended, closes. After spending time with him, Hattie learns that Adam has memorized every episode of “I Love Lucy” and can name the day of the week for any day in history. Hattie’s grandparents live nearby and are one of the wealthiest families in their town. They are picky about manners and the appearance of their family, and disapprove of the carnival when it comes to town.
This a good, short book about the friendship of Hattie and Adam over the summer they spend together. I think someone could learn a lot from this book and from Hattie’s experience. The title of the book comes from its theme, which is to change what’s given to you, explore, poke around or “lift the corners”. Ann Martin is also the co-author of The Doll People and The Doll People 2 and author of The Baby-sitters Club series. She is a very good writer and I definitely recommend this book.
-Kristen
After**
Francine Prose
Harper Collins Publishing Co. 2003 330 pgs
$16.99 ISBN: 0-06-008081-7
By: Cammie
Ever since the killings at Pleasant Valley, Central High School is taking major precautions to prevent a school shooting. The school hired a grief and guidance counselor named Dr.Wilner to strengthen security and take away privileges. Ever since that day, kids have started disappearing.
Tom Bishop is curious about the new Counselor and the strange disappearings. After one of his friends gets taken away, he begins to wonder if he or anyone else will be next.
After has become close to my heart with its gripping contents. Every chapter of this book will drag you on and keep you reading all night long. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys books that have a school setting. I would give this book an 8.5 out of ten, and if you read it I hope you will enjoy it just as much as I did.
The Clique
Lisi Harrison
17th Street Productions, $4.99, 2004
220 pgs, ISBN # 0-316-70129-7
Massie Block is basically royalty. She lives in a mansion, has all designer clothes, and gets everything she wants. She has a group of friends: Alicia, Dylan, and Kristen. They all live perfect lives just like Massie but not as rich. Did I mention they are the most popular group called the Clique? Of course Massie is the leader and Dylan, Alicia, and Kristen follow her around.
As it gets closer to the first day of school, Massie is hit with a surprise. Mr. Block gives Massie the news that his friend and family are coming to live at their house until they could get a house. Claire Lyons is Mr. Lyons’ daughter who wears Gap and Keds. Massie sees her and automatically hates her. She also becomes a complete outsider.
Harrison doesn’t have chapters; she divides The Clique into scenes based on the location of the characters. This gives the book more prospective on what the characters’ think of that certain problem.
I would recommend this book because it gives so many thoughts and feelings. The Clique also gives a lot of advice for teenage girls that are having problems with meeting new people. The Clique is the first book in a nine book series.
- Sophia
Sealed With A Diss
Lisi Harrison
Little, Brown and Company, 2007,248 pages, $9.99, 0-316-11506-1
After a competition with other 7th grade girls, the Pretty Committee is now the owner of a secret room at Octavian Country Day for their 8th grade year. At the end of every year the 8th grade alphas hand down the room key to the 7th graders. The Pretty Committee has heard rumors about what past 8th graders have done with the room and are making plans of their own for what they will do. One of the most important things in the room is ESP. This gives them access to a class where the boys share their problems and secrets. There is a hidden camera in the class that is hooked up to a TV in the secret room. Massie, the alpha of the Pretty Committee, makes a deal with the 8th grade alpha, Skye Hamilton. Skye is having an end of the year party and wants Chris Abeley as her date. If Massie can get Chris to go with Skye while also finding dates for everyone in the Pretty Committee (Herself, Claire, Dylan, Alicia and Kristen), then they get the room early and if she doesn’t they lose the room forever. Skye allows them to watch ESP for a couple minutes each day to help find their dates but for Claire who already has a boyfriend, the ESP might do more harm than good.
This is a great book for girls and it is my favorite series of books so far. Sealed With A Diss is the 8th book in the clique series. The others are The Clique, Best Friends For Never, Revenge of the Wannabes, Invasion of the Boysnatchers, The Pretty Committee Strikes Back, Dial L For Loser, It’s Not Easy Being Mean and the newest one is Bratfest At Tiffany’s. I would say the theme for this book is to be yourself and don’t try to be someone different to get certain people to like you.
-Kristen
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Hoot
Carl Hiaasen
Random House, 2005, 304pp., $6.99
ISBN 9780440419396
In Hoot three very different people come together to save the endangered owls living at the Mother Paula's construction site. There's Roy, an average boy at the local high school. Beatrice, soccer jock and popular girl. Then Mullet Fingers, the homeless, boarding school dropout, nature boy. They send a note to the company telling them about building on the owls, pull up all the survey sticks, and even put alligators in the toilets! But they won't stop getting ready to build Mother Paula's. When groundbreaking day comes will they not build or will the little owls die?
I think this realistic fiction novel was phenomenal and had a good point, about saving the owls. I loved the plot and thought it was intriguing with all the action. I can't imagine putting so many events, one after one, in three hundred and four pages. It is written in a third persons point of view so it feels like I'm watching it, not in Roy's head. It is a lot like Flush, where the characters are also dealing with environmental issues, also by Carl Hiaasen. If you like animals, community service, and trying to make a difference, you would like this book. It is an extravagant book.
-Mercedes
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Klepto
Jenny Pollack
Penguin Group, 2006, 271pp., $16.99
ISBN 9780670060610
Meet Julie Prodsky, the new girl at the High School of Performing Arts in New York. She has no friends, but then Julie Braverman shows up. She is the beautiful, popular girl with the to-die-for wardrobe! When Julie P. finds out the secret to Julie B.'s to-die-for wardrobe -shoplifting- she has a new best friend. Soon after, Julie P. has a closet full of stolen clothes and a new boyfriend. Then Julie P.'s conscience steps in. She is blinded by the clothes and doesn't realize how much trouble she's in. Will Julie B. dump her as a friend if she stops stealing?
I really loved this fast paced read. It has an interesting plot with all the stealing and how she did it. I adored the drama throughout the book between the two Julie's. Written in Julie P.'s point of view I understand why she thought it was okay to steal. Jenny Pollack changed the way that I think about relationships between best friends and boys and girls. I will definitely never steal after reading Klepto. Another great book is Gender Blender by Blake Nelson. It's about a boy and girl that switch bodies and can't switch back until they break the curse! I would recommend Klepto to girls that like books about best friends and relationships.
-Mercedes
If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where’s My Prince?
Melissa Kantor, $15.99, pages: 283,
Hyperion, 2005, ISBN: 078680960-4
Reviewed by: Lindsey
For Lucy, life is certainly not a fairytale. When Lucy’s father remarries a woman named Mara, makes her move into her house in New York, and brings Mara’s two evil twelve-year-old daughters into Lucy’s life, it is turned upside down. Lucy’s mother died when she was three. When she met Mara, the hope of having a nice mother again was not likely. Lucy finds herself living Cinderella’s life. She is forced to live in the basement and sleeps on an air mattress, while her stepsisters sleep in their own rooms with furniture upstairs. But what happens when Glen Lake High School’s prince charming, Connor, comes in to her life? Suddenly she is no longer the invisible girl at school. Now all she needs is her life at home to take a turn for the better. Will it?
This novel is a classic Cinderella story with a surprising twist at the end. Maybe Lucy’s life will have a happy ever after. This novel is a gripping story about the wills and wits of a young girl who is determined to make her life take a turn for the better. I recommend this book to any girl who wants a good read. You will be wrapped up in Lucy’s life from start to finish. Melissa Kantor uses great imagery and details in this gripping and deep novel. This realistic fiction book will have you on the edge of your seat from the very beginning.
All American Girl
Meg Cabot, Harper Trophy,
Pages: 398, 2002, $16.99,
ISBN: 0-060447277
Reviewed by: Lindsey
Samantha Madison is a high school social outcast; she has her own style, and would rather hang out, and do art at home then go out and have pizza with friends like most of the kids at her school. In other words, she is known as a “freak”. However everything is about to change and Samantha Madison has no idea. One day when she is walking out of Suzan Boones art studio in Washington D.C. where she is forced to take art lessons, the president pulls up in a limo at the cookie store next to the art studio, and there happens to be a strange man pointing a gun at the president! Samantha has two choices (1) run and hide or (2) jump on his back and try to save the president. Samantha Madison chooses two, and breaks her arm in the process.
Suddenly Samantha’s life is no longer boring. Everyone wants to be her friend, or have her over to their house, or have her join their club. Maybe choice two wasn’t so bad even though she broke her arm. What will happen when has dinner at the white house and becomes friends with the president’s son, David?
This realistic fiction novel is a story of a courageous girl who risked her life to save someone else’s and the consequences aren’t so bad. Meg Cabot uses great details to tell the story of a heroic young girl. You can picture every moment of this captivating novel. I recommend this novel to any girl who wants to indulge in the story about a girl who becomes a hero overnight. On a scale from one to ten I give All American Girl a ten. This addicting novel will have you wondering what comes next with every page you read. It will become one of your all time favorite novels in a heartbeat.
A Dogs Life
Ann M. Martin
Year 2002 182pgs.
ISBN# 0-439-90107-3 SCHOLASTIC
Reviewed by Angela
This book is about the struggle of a born stray named Squirrel, and her brother bone. She has been every kind of dog from abused to the gentalest touch. Good food and scraps to just about starving.
This is one of my favorite dog books. If you liked the book Stray dog you’ll love this realistic fiction book. By the time I was finished I was cuddled up next to my dog hugging him the whole time.
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life
Wendy Maas, Little, Brown Young Readers, 2006, 304 pp.,
$6.99, ISBN 0316058491
Jeremy Fink is a twelve-year old living in a New York City apartment with his mom. His best friend is a girl named Lizzy, who lives next door.
A month before Jeremy’s birthday a mysterious box is delivered to him. Carved words on the beautiful wooden box say ‘ THE MEANING OF LIFE FOR JEREMY FINK ON HIS THIRTEENTH BIRTHDAY’. There are four keyholes, but no keys were delivered with the box.
Wendy Maas tells the story of how Jeremy and Lizzy look for the keys while they learn a very important lesson of life. I would recommend this book to anyone.
-Lan
Prep
Curtis Sittenfeld
Random House, 2005, 403 pages
ISBM-8129-7235-x, $13,95
Reviewed by Kendall King
“Mom, Dad, can I go to boarding school?” These were Lee’s exact words when she first decided to go to boarding school. Little did she know that the next four years of her life would be nothing she expected. She was faced with being just another scholar girl surrounded with rich people, the boy she is in love with doesn’t no she exist, and she just found out what her roommate truly feels about her.
This realistic fiction book Prep is a great book for anyone who loves a great novel filled with gossip, drama, and romance. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone
title, Monster
price,6.99
ISBN#978-0-06-440731-1
year, 1999
pages, 281
publisher, Harper Collins
author, Walter Myers
review by. marc teal
James king is a 16 year old boy. He is in trial for the murder of the cashier at the local store. While he is in court they decide to make a movie about the murder.
I recommend this book to any one that like realistic fiction murder stories. I think this book is well written. There is always something going on from fighting and yelling or just times in the court room. This book is written like screen play so its easy to follow along.
The Truth About Forever
Published in New York, NY: Viking 2004 374 pp., $7.99
Sarah Dessen ISBN 0-670-03639-0
Macy Queen was a perfect teenage girl. She had a wonderful family, got good grades, and was an awesome track star. But one fateful day while running she catches up to her dad, and finds him on the ground struggling for breath, with an unknown stranger attempting CPR. The ambulance comes, but it’s too late.
It’s now three years later and since the death of her father Macy has given up running and isolated herself from her friends. Her boyfriend, Jason, also just broke up with her over e-mail leaving her with his old boring library information desk job. She even believes that if she can be the perfect child for her mother then everything will be right again.
But everything changes when Macy meets the catering crew at one of her mothers Queen Homes Real Estate parties. She starts working with them and learns to open up to other people, especially Wes who also knows what it feels like to lose a parent.
But what will happen when Jason suddenly comes back for Macy? What path will she take and who will she choose to become?
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a romantic, realistic fictional story. Sarah Dessen draws you in with extraordinary description and she allows you to fully understand the character’s emotions.
~ Emily
The Clique- Bratfest at Tiffany’s
Lisi Harrison
Alloy Entertainment Publishers 2008, pp. 227
$9.99, ISBN- 978-0-316-00680-4
Reviewed by Emily
It’s the first day of school and the Pretty Committee is ready to start the new year as the head alphas of eighth grade. This was a dream come true! The only people standing in their way are the boys from Briarwood Academy who will now be combining with the Octavian Country Day School (OCD) girls into one school. Will this jeopardize the Pretty Committee’s alpha status? Will the boys be the new alphas? Ahhhh!
To avoid any problems, Massie Block (Head alpha of Pretty Committee) declares a boyfast, and changes their name to the ‘New Pretty Committee’. No flirting, no talking, no texting, nothing! If anyone is caught doing the following they are OUT. Forever. But this only makes things much worse. Was this Massie’s cry for help? Instead of bringing the five girls closer together, it might just tear them apart.
When the combined schools get split up into Main Building and Overflow Trailers everyone in the New Pretty Committee get put into Overflow except Alicia Rivera who secretly made it so that she would be in Main Building with Josh Hotz, her secret crush. But she doesn’t want to be kicked out of the New Pretty Committee forever. Can she do both?
This is a great book for girls and for people who like realistic fiction. Lisi Harrison helps the reader understand each character’s point of view by switching roles between chapters. This book helps a reader understand the important and not so important things in life.
Give a Boy a Gun 208 pgs. $4.99
Todd Strasser ISBN# 0-689-84-893-5
Brendan and Gary are fed up with getting treated terribly by the jocks at Middle Town High. Gary is the more mature one of them, but he has a different side to him. Brendan is the more immature one, but they are both in the same boat. The main person who is making their lives miserable is a guy called Sam Flatch. He terrorizes Brenden and Gary until they lose it. They steal an arsenol of guns and take everyone hostage at the school dance. Could anyone have stopped this, or will Brenden and Gary get revenge?
I highly recommend this book for the readers who like suspense and not just any ordinary book. This is the best book that I have ever read.
-Keenan
The Bad Beginning
Lemony Snicket,
Publisher: Egmont First British Edition, September 2003, 162 pages,
$14.99, ISBN # 0-06-440766-7
Reviewed by Keenan Roche
They call this book A Series of Unfortunate Events for a reason. The Baurderline children, Sunny, Klaus, and Violet are put into an orphanage after a house fire that their mom and dad died in. Their parent’s will says that they have to live with their closest relative if anything bad happens, and their closest relative is Count Olaf. He lives in a old mansion that is huge, and makes the kids clean every square inch of it. The Baurderlines hate him so they try to escape from the house, but that isn’t very easy to do because Count Olaf is sneaky.
I liked this book so much that immediately after I read it I got the second book in the series, and it never got boring, so it was hard to put down. The authors style of writing is from a narrorators point of view. The genre of this book would be realistic fiction. I recommend this book to anyone who likes good books.
year published 2003
ISBN:0-15-204774-3
Title: the after life
Author: Gary Soto
Name: Christopher
pages 189
As I lay there hopelessly in the restroom floor drenched in my blood I was telling
Myself, Jesus, why is this happening to me. As I was telling myself that a boy walked in
And ran out of the restroom yelling dead person in the restroom.
A boy just about to Finish Up high school goes to meet his soon to be girlfriend at a minors club when he goes into the restroom. But when a mysterious person walks in to the restroom the story takes a Turn
Gary Soto really pulls the reader in to this suspenseful book. I recommend This Book to anyone who can stand sad and suspenseful books
Title: PARROT IN THE OVEN
Author: VICTOR MARTINEZ
Chris
School is starting for 14 year old for many. School is only one of mannys problems though he is living with an abusive father that drinks 24/7 and is growing up around gang activity. Mannys father thinks that there is many people in the world but he thinks that many is just a low life Mexican boy. Many wants to show his dad that he is not a low life and that he can get respect but in mannys neihborhood the only way to do that is to be in a gang.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes books that are page-turners and books that make you want to know what happens at the end. To anyone who liked number of the stars you will love this book I loved this book so much I finished in about 2 and a half days. People who like books about when the main character is in a hard situation in his or her life and doesn’t know where to turn you then this is a book you should in the future or know should read.